Gulfstream News & Notes

Sunday’s $150,000 Palm Beach (G3) was the target for Balance the Books’ 2013 debut, but the promising 3-year-old turf runner will stay in the barn because of lost training time due to a recent fever.

“I was going to run Balance the Books, but he got a temperature about a week ago. It’s really disappointing, because he’s the one I wanted to run there,” trainer Chad Brown said during training hours at Palm Meadows Training Center Wednesday morning “He’s OK. I just went back to the track with him, but he did lose a couple days because of the temperature.”

Brown had originally planned to prep Balance the Books in the Palm Beach, a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes that attracted Kitten’s Joy Stakes winner Charming Kitten, to prep for the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 13.

“I might have to go to Plan B and run him in the Spiral at Turfway (March 23) and then wheel him back in the Blue Grass,” Brown said. “It wasn’t my ideal plan, but you have to make adjustments with horses.”

Should the son of Lemon Drop Kid perform well over the synthetic tracks at Turfway and Keeneland, Brown will certainly experience pressure to go for it in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

“He’s always struck me as a grass horse, or a synthetic horse, but there might come a day where we might try him on the dirt,” he said.

Balance the Books finished a troubled third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) behind stablemate Noble Tune, who was also nominated to the Palm Beach.

“He’s never been a mile and an eighth before; I’m certainly not going to do it off a layoff, not with that particular horse. Balance the Books is better equipped to do run a mile and an eighth, even off a layoff. He’s a more long-winded horse,” Brown said. “With Noble Tune, his first race back, I want to start him off at a slightly shorter distance if I can. I’m not positive what race that’s going to be yet.”

Brown will be represented in Thursday’s featured ninth race, a first-level optional claiming turf race at five furlongs, by Devil’s Cave. The 3-year-old daughter of Put It Back broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 12 in her second lifetime start and first start on turf. She came back to finish second on Jan. 11.

“She looks like a one-turn grass horse. She’s so lightly raced, I think she can improve throughout the year,” Brown said. “I’m not sure at what level she’ll be. We’ll give her the opportunity to develop.”

John Velazquez, who was aboard for Devil’s Cave’s three starts, has the return mount aboard the Florida-bred filly.

Horsemen's Dinner to Honor Ussery

Hall of Fame jockey Bobby Ussery will be honored by friends and horsemen Tuesday, March 5 during a dinner at Luca Bella Restaurant in Aventura.

Ussery, a native of Oklahoma, won his first race on Nov. 22, 1951 aboard Reticule in the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds. In 1960 he rode Bally Ache to victories in the Florida Derby and Preakness Stakes and rode champion Hail to Reason to win the Hopeful Stakes. In 1967 he won the Kentucky Derby with Proud Clarion.

The cost per person is $50 and includes cocktails and a four-course dinner menu. For more information contact Bill and Mary Hirsch at 954.454.9375.

Reserve a day at the races for an unforgettable birthday, office party, family reunion, fundraiser or association gathering. With a variety of all-inclusive packages that include value added extras, like a trip to the Winner's Circle and a picture with the winning jockey, your next gathering is sure to be a memorable one.Read More